- Ironbark Ridge PS Cnr. Ironbark Ridge Road and Withers Road, Rouse Hill, 2155 Ph: 8814 5687 Fax: 8814 5698 Email: ironbarkrg-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Webpage: www.ironbarkrg-p.schools.nsw.gov.au Nurturing personal growth through inspired learning…

Newsletter 2018

Term 4 Week 5 16th November, 2018 Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful

DATES FOR THE DIARY NOVEMBER 20h – School Disco 21st NKPS Kindy Orientation 9.30am-11.00am 21st – Last Scripture Lesson, 2D & 4/3B Assembly 23rd – Summer PSSA 26th –Swim School Begins 27th – Swim School 28th – Swim Schoo, Student Leaders Assembly 29th – Swim School, Awards of Excellence Morning Tea,

Summer PSSA 30th – Swim School

DECEMBER 1st - Swim School 2nd – Swim School 3rd - Swim School 4th – Swim School, OC Orientation 9.30am – 11.00am 5th – Swim School 6th – Swim School 7th – Swim School

** Subscribe to our ‘Ironbark Ridge – Events’ Google calendar (see the app or the school website)

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Today marks the half-way point of Term 4 and we have all seen the sparkly baubles and tinsel out in the shopping centres. Hopefully your weekends are not yet ‘booked out’ and you still have time to spend with family, especially your children, to relax and refresh before each new week. Our students at Ironbark Ridge seem to be able to turn up each day with a sparkle in their eye and boundless enthusiasm for learning… well, maybe I’ve just been visiting Kindy and Year 1 classrooms more than the others of late ;) Our Year 6 students are certainly nearing an important milestone in their educational journey, and I’d encourage them all to stop and reflect on the wonderful time they’ve had being Ironbarkers. We have definitely enjoyed and benefitted greatly from everything they have each given our fantastic school. Five weeks to go Year 6! School Directions and Strategy At the commencement of 2018 we began the next stages on our school’s journey towards “Nurturing personal growth through inspired learning” – a new three-year plan. This vision of what our wonderful school can be focusses us on the possibilities, on the future, and helps us to relentlessly raise the bar of what we see as success. We will not be complacent. The development of the Ironbark Ridge School Plan 2018-20 (see our website for a pdf version) has aligned our effort into three Strategic Directions:

1. Confident, successful, inspired learning 2. Expert teaching 3. Visionary leading

In addition to the three ‘lanes’ in which we will be moving forward, we are developing five strategic practices to ensure our ‘speed’ and ‘fuel efficiency’ are maximised: Evaluative Thinking – A disciplined approach to inquiry and reflective practice to

effectively weigh up the merit of the systems and practices we have in place at our school to support and improve student growth.

Collective Efficacy – The use of explicit systems for collaboration and feed-forward to sustain quality teaching practice and to maximise learning progress and growth.

Distributed Leadership – Strategic allocation of responsibilities to those with demonstrated or developing leadership capabilities in the aim of maximising the impact of the whole/team on student outcomes.

Differentiated Instruction – Developing personalised approaches to teaching in all classrooms where students’ individual level of challenge can be targeted to maximise learning.

Agile Learning – All programs and systems across our school are supported by the intentional teaching, practice and flexible use of a range of specific contextually-driven behaviours and capabilities.

Our Ironbark Ridge School Plan 2018-20 outlines a range of projects that will ensure school, staff, student and community growth in all three directions and using each of the five practices. Exciting times! Stars Congratulations to all students who received a Star Award at the most recent assemblies. There are always far more creative, amazing, achieving, growing students in each class than we can possibly award! The resilience built through reflection on a ‘fourth place’ is often more beneficial than being the ‘winner’. If students set themselves goals and work towards them they should be proud of their own effort, persistence and growth. Student self-reflection based on feedback from peers and teachers is one of the most effective learning situations for an Agile Learner. Like Ridgy the Frog, we need to be agile and ready to pounce on learning opportunities… that includes social, emotional and behavioural learning opportunities as well as the academic ones we so often focus on. External Rewards? People are motivated to behave for three reasons:

1. What do I get out of this? eg. stickers, certificates, acclaim 2. How can I avoid the pain? eg. time-out, fines, public criticism 3. What is the right thing to do?

The first two reasons are ‘External’ rewards or punishment. The third, and preferred reason to choose a behaviour is entirely ‘Internal’ and controlled by the responder! Although children, students and people in general can be manipulated to an extent if we reward them significantly or inflict a form of ‘pain’ they want to avoid, neither of these will lead to responsible behaviour. All of the research points to this conclusion. At Ironbark Ridge we envision our students growing out of the need to receive external rewards, to be motivated instead by their own internal values and beliefs by the time they leave for High School. Research shows that those who learn to respond and choose their behaviour based mainly on factors ‘outside’ or ‘external’ to their own self, ultimately find it difficult to live responsible, satisfying lives. Parent Information Forum… Come and join us for an early afternoon tea on Thursday 29th November for an information session about:

- Student Leadership strategy - NAPLAN 2018 - and some general discussion

This will be the first of our ongoing series of Parent Forums, designed to offer members of our learning community who are unable to attend evening P&C meetings with a chance to gather and learn about school projects, plans and strategies. We will gather your opinions and suggestions about matters raised during P&C meetings so we can help present as authentic an account of our community’s views as possible at the official P&C Meeting. School Photos After much discussion here at last term’s P&C meeting and with the P&C Executive, we have booked Advanced Life to deliver School Photos to the community in 2019. This is a change from The School Photographer who had the job in 2018 and 2017. Parenting ideas Later in newsletter there is a timely article for our Year 6 parents entitled “Making a Smooth Transition to Secondary School”, and a link to a free webinar voucher. Have a read and reflect It will be well worth the time to watch the webinar on 27th November. Have a look at the rest of the Ironbark Ridge news snippets, and I hope you can make time to join us for one of our many end-of-year events at school. Yours in constant search for areas of growth, Nick Thomson Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’ REPORT Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day 11th November 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice which ended World War I (1914–18). On Monday our school leaders and staff conducted a service to remember and commemorate those who have served and died in war and armed conflicts. The ceremony included an acknowledgement of the centenary of the end of WW1. Thank you to Sergeant Watson for delivering an informative and heartfelt speech. All students who attended showed their utmost respect for the occasion. A special thank you to Mrs Barton for her organisation of this important commemoration. Lest We Forget.

Kindy Orientation During the past few weeks, our staff and our student leaders have had the pleasure of welcoming our new and current families and their children into our school community. The 2019 Kindy students have now completed their third and final visit. We are impressed with how quickly they have settled in and enjoyed their initial experience at school. Parents attended the information session and had the opportunity to ask questions to support their child’s transition from preschool to primary school. Useful activities to try in the lead-up to starting Kindergarten During the weeks before starting school, some helpful activities may include making sure your child can use the toilet independently – including urinals for boys – and practise good hand-washing techniques. Write your child’s name on all their school things and involve your child in organising them and recognising their name. Other activities may include taking a ball to a park to throw, catch and kick together. Organise a picnic with a packed lunch and encourage your child to open it and eat the food by themselves. Let your child practise putting on their school shoes and walking in them dressing in their school uniform, drinking from bubblers, cutting and pasting pictures from a magazine and drawing pictures. School Leadership The formal process has begun for all our students wishing to seek a leadership role in 2019. It will be a difficult task to replace our current outstanding student leadership team. As well as submitting their application, all students have been engaged in our school team building and initiatives to help us identify the skills that our children possess. A range of activities has allowed staff and peer leaders to view our aspiring leaders in a whole new light. The process continues and provides plenty of time for their leadership to be witnessed authentically by demonstrating the skills required of our leaders. Ridgy Didge Winners

Our first group of Ridgy Didge winners drawn out of the basket during morning assembly were welcomed into the staffroom to attend a formal morning tea with the executive staff and teachers. The smiles on faces were priceless. Feedback about following the expectations and congratulating our successful students was the flavour of the morning. We look forward to our next celebration in Week 8. Everyone is a learner Ironbark hosted a Community of Schools professional learning sessions in which

teachers unpacked the new Science and Technology syllabus. We welcomed staff from Rouse Hill, Beaumont Hills and Kellyville to engage in collegial learning led by a Science consultant. Full implementation of the new syllabus will take place in January 2019. Group Photos Please find below a link to the School Photographer for online ordering of the leadership photographs. www.theschoolphotographer.com.au Order Code: 18S324EL39R A reminder to please email the school for photos of dance and sport groups. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, Kerrie Pho and Kerry De Jager Deputy Principals

Ironbark Ridge Public School Parent Planner Term 4, 2018

** Note: All dates on this planner are subject to change at the discretion of the school. Updated 1.11.18

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat/Sun

6

Nov

19 20

SRC Disco

21 NKPS Kindy Orientation: 9.30- 11am

Last Scripture lesson 1D & 4/3B Assembly

22 23 Summer PSSA

24/25

7

Nov/Dec

26 Swim School begins

27 Swim School

28 Swim School

Student Leaders

Assembly

29 Swim School

Awards of Excellence Morning Tea 2.00pm Parent Forum

30 Swim School Summer PSSA

1/2

8 Dec

3 Swim School

4 Swim School

OC 2019 Orientation

Year 6 Farewell

5 Swim School

KT & KCB Assembly

6 Swim School

7 Swim School

8/9

9 Dec

10 11 Celebration Day 9.30am – 3-6 11.30am – K-2

12

No Assembly

13 14 15/16

10 Dec

17 Party Day for Kindy and Stage 1 (TBC)

18 Party Day for Stage 2 and 3 (TBC)

19 Year 6 Leaving Assembly

Last day for students

20 Staff Development Day

21

Staff Development Day

22/23

ADMINISTRATION For administration purposes, if your child/children is/are going to be returning late back to school in 2019, could you please advise the office as soon as possible. If your child/children will not be returning to Ironbark Ridge Public School in 2019, could you please complete the form at the back of the newsletter and return to the office as soon as you can. This is to assist us in our class planning for 2019. Thank you, Allison Batten School Administration Manage.r

KINDY CAPERS Congratulations to all our Kindergarten Star Award recipients! It was lovely to see these students proudly smiling and displaying their certificates at our recent assemblies. It was also great to see their classmates happy for them and offering high fives and thumbs up. Next Tuesday evening, 20th November, Kindergarten students are invited to attend our K-2 school disco in the hall. The disco begins at 5.00pm and runs until 6.15pm. Children can wear their favourite party/dancing clothes. Tickets are available on Flexi schools and after school outside the office. Students may have come home talking about Operation Christmas Child. Our SRC are supporting this wonderful initiative. It involves filling shoeboxes of gifts for children experiencing hardships. Kindergarten classes have all been asked to fill 2 boxes per class. One for a girl aged 2-4yrs and one for a boy aged 2-4yrs. If you would like to donate to this, some ideas of things to send in are:

• Something to wear • Something to play with • Something for school • Something to love • Something for personal hygiene

Our end of year movie day is fast approaching. Thanks to everyone who has made the payment by today’s due date. Please ensure you have also sent in the permission note. Kindergarten classes are still working hard with many great learning experiences happening daily. Following are photos of KS building castles with lockable doors to keep Cinderella from running away and losing her shoe, KP and KW building new houses for the three little pigs and KG testing parachutes as an alternative to a beanstalk for Jack to escape the giant. Thanks to all parents who are sending in recyclable materials to assist with these projects.

Kindy Teachers

STAGE 1 SNIPPETS It has been another busy fortnight of learning across Stage 1, as we move closer to the end of the year and our much anticipated movie day. Payment for the excursion is due by this Friday 16th November. Please remember to print and sign the permission note which is also required. Notes should be returned to the front office. As we get closer to the end of the term, teachers will soon begin to ask students to return their home readers. Now is a great time to have a hunt around for any readers that might have been misplaced.

Swim scheme will run over weeks 7 and 8 for those students who are participating. Students should come to school in their regular school uniform, as they will change for swimming at school and back into their uniform on their return. Students should bring their swimming costume, goggles, a towel and something to wear on their feet (flip flops) in a separate bag. Rash vests are not needed, as the pool is indoors.

Stage One Teachers STAGE 2 SNIPPETS This term is flying by but Stage Two are up for any challenges or opportunities that arise. A reminder that Term 4 accounts have been sent out and are due to be paid by this Friday the 16th. Many students are already very excited at the prospect of heading out to Broken Bay for camp next year! Thank you to everyone who has promptly returned notes and payments to classroom teachers. Ironbark Ridge have been celebrating achievement in all areas, starting with our first round of Star Awards in Week 4 and the second round in Week 5. Congratulations to all of the students who have been presented with a Star Award, what a great achievement! Student achievement will continue to be rewarded at the IRPS Celebration Day. This year, Celebration Day will take place on Tuesday the 11th of December, with Years 3-6 awards presented from 9:30am-11:00. Similarly to previous years, it will be held at Rouse Hill High School in the school hall. Stage 2 assemblies have been a hit this year with many impressive performances. In Week 6 we will see 4/3B and 1D present their assembly. We’re sure it will be very entertaining.

As the term draws to a close, we ask that students bring back overdue books. It is incredibly important that all books are returned so that we can continue to share the fantastic wealth of resources our library has to provide. Swim school begins on the 26th of November. With the weather warming up it

will be lovely for those students attending to escape the heat.

Christmas is drawing nearer and IRPS is participating in 'Operation Christmas Child' where we fill shoeboxes with presents for children in need around the world. It won't take much for classes to fill their allocated shoeboxes- one for a boy and one for a girl.

The categories are: Something to wear Something to play with Something for school Something to love Something special Something for personal hygiene.

Stage two have been allocated children between 5-9 years of age so please consider this when purchasing your donation. 5 weeks to go, how exciting! Stage 2 Teachers Longneck Lagoon Sixteen of our scientific-minded students from Stage 2 had a day at Longneck Lagoon last week. They had fantastic activities to try and solve the baffling problem of who killed Kermit. Here is what some of our scientists had to say about the day. It was a terrific time. My favourite part was when we used the microscope to have a closer look. The thing I learned was that I am good at net fishing and that there is always something to learn. Annabelle – 4S My favourite bit was when we tested the water for lots of different things like what temperature the water was and how muddy it was. I also liked when we went water netting for what lives in the creek we found lots of things. My favourite ones were the leach and the little tadpoles. I learnt what colour bird band to attach on birds legs to count the birds and I learnt who killed the Kermit the frog. We found out that it was humans because of pollution, houses, roads and our rubbish. This excursion was so much fun and I am glad I could come. Ella – 4S

I loved testing the water for oxygen, animal water, temperate and Hp. I learnt that Longneck Lagoon doesn’t have lots of oxygen in the water and people actually killed Kermit. Ebony – 4T I like the microscopes and looking at the leech was the coolest part. Rohin – 4T

My time at longneck lagoon was really fun. (Apart from the gigantic mozzie bite.) First we introduced ourselves. Our teacher was Libby. We played some games including: a throwing and catching game and a game where we put ourselves in alphabetical order. We then headed back to the classroom. After that we did some visual testing. (Visual testing is testing somethings quality with our eyes.) The water was very muddy. We later learned that this was because of the carp. We did some water testing by the creek. Each person in our group was in charge of something. I really enjoyed the testing but I didn’t like the fact I was testing animal poop. Then we did my favourite bit: DIPNETTING!!!! I caught so many tadpoles and bug skins but the most impressive catch was Jonah’s. A FROGLET! It kept squirming around and wiggling but it couldn’t escape. Then a bug flew onto my hand and bit me! A few minutes later, I saw it again! I ran away shrieking and saying “it’s going to bite me!!!” Lucky everyone was concentrating on the wiggly froglet. We then went to lunch. After that we went to the microscopes. We observed and named the bugs. The last thing we did was talk

about the environment and saving it. Then we went home. The trip was so fun and I recommend it to everyone. Victor – 4F STAGE 3 SNIPPETS The term is well and truly underway! Only 25 school days left………. Stage 3 students have continued to explore a range of new digital technologies, through the STEM Share Kit. They have been working with Microbits, Ozobots, Makey Makey and Lego Mindstorm. It has been wonderful seeing their enthusiasm and engagement, and how somw have stepped out of their comfort zones to try new technology. Year 6 have also continued our internal transition program. This program involves English lessons regarding Shakespeare, personal development lessons, physical education and high school orientation. Students receive timetables, homework and instructions from each class and are held accountable for their time management skills and ability to submit tasks by the due date.

Year 6 are also well underway with learning dances in preparation for their farewell dinner/dance on Tuesday 4th December at the Novotel, Norwest.

Please keep an eye on the calendars, app and Facebook page to ensure you are kept in the loop. Thank you in advance for your continued support throughout Term 4. We are looking forward to another exciting five weeks of teaching and learning. Stage 3 Teachers Dear Parents / Carers, Could you please start looking in your bookshelves at home for all Ironbark Ridge School Library Books that have not been returned and send them back to school. We need to start preparing for end of year stocktake. Thank you. Many thanks

Judy Paton Rachel Bryce Alison Brewster Amelia Weekley

CHINESE

Nǐmen hǎo! 你们 好! The next stop on our journey was the city of Xi’An to see the amazing Terracotta Army. It was extraordinary! To date, they have discovered around 8,000 statues, but this is believed to be only 5% of what is still

underground. We even got to meet Mr Yang, the farmer who discovered the first statues while he was digging a well. He was kind enough to chat with us and have photos. Unfortunately, the weather stopped us from cycling on the city wall, but we got to go to a calligraphy class instead at the Wild Goose Pagoda. The monks were chanting at the temple and the smell of incense was incredible. We had an amazing dumpling dinner that night with 18 different flavours, and then drove around the city to see the beautiful lights. It was a short stay but what an amazing city! (to be continued)

Mrs Linda Przyrembel – Chinese Teacher/Excursion Organiser

The ANZAC Garden The ANZAC Garden is a very special place within the school grounds here at Ironbark. Located in the heart of the school and proudly bearing the two flagpoles, it provides a focal point for school assemblies and the special commemorative services held for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. The pine tree that stands in the centre of the garden is very significant also, as it was given to our school in 2005 as a sapling , grown from a tree at Lone Pine in Gallipoli, Turkey.

This week, as part of the Remembrance Day activities, the ANZAC Garden boasted a beautiful display of Flanders Poppies. Each student in the school participated in making a paper poppy that was ‘planted’ in the garden. Over 950 individual red poppies filled the garden, reminding us all of the ultimate sacrifice made by so many men and women in our armed forces.

The students involved in Garden Club spent their lunchtimes last week preparing the ANZAC Garden with the help from our friends at Bunnings. They have planted real Flanders Poppy seeds in the two large white pots within the garden. They look forward to another spectacular display of red flowers in the next few months. As this garden is a significant place in our school, we ask that our school community treats it as such and ask you to refrain from walking or standing on it.

PSSA SPORT – TERM 3 STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN PSSA TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AT SCHOOL ON FRIDAY MORNINGS IN TERM 4 AT 8.45AM FOR AN

8.50AM SHARP DEPARTURE. IF STUDENTS DO NOT ARRIVE ON TIME THE BUS WILL NOT WAIT AND YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE

PARTICIPATING IN PSSA ON THAT FRIDAY. WEEK 6 23rd November AFL Wrights Reserve, Pyes Road Quakers Hill SOFTBALL/T-BALL Hills Centenary CRICKET Hills Centenary NRL TAG Russell Reserve – Field 2 (Withers Rd, Rouse Hill (ex Second Ponds) WEEK 7 30th November AFL Wrights Reserve, Pyes Road Quakers Hill SOFTBALL/T-BALL Jonas Bradley Oval, 165 The Ponds Blvd, The Ponds CRICKET Jonas Bradley Oval, 165 The Ponds Blvd, The Ponds NRL TAG Russell Reserve – Field 1 (Withers Rd, Rouse Hill (ex Second Ponds)

P & C NEWS

Ironbark Ridge P&C Association would like to thank our

Platinum & MAJOR Fete Sponsor

WEBSITE : www.skylinesolar.com.au Showroom : 317 Windsor Rd, Vineyard NSW 2765

Phone : 1300 759 765 Email : skylinesolar@bigpond.com

KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 5

We are starting to plan classes for 2019. If you know that your child/ren will definitely not be

returning to Ironbark Ridge next year or will be returning late at the commencement of the 2019

school year, please complete the slip below and return it to the school office as soon as possible.

Please disregard this letter if your child/ren are continuing at Ironbark in 2019.

Nick Thomson Principal ________________________________________________________________________

END OF YEAR STUDENT LEAVERS – KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 5 OR LATE RETURNERS

My child _____________________________________________ Class ______________ My child _____________________________________________ Class ______________ My child _____________________________________________ Class ______________ Will not be returning to Ironbark Ridge PS next year. Destination School __________________________________________________ Will be returning late. Date returning ____________________________________ Parent or Caregiver Signature: ______________________________________________

COMMUNITY NOTICES're a We have had a few instances of chicken pox at the school. Please take the time to read the attached fact sheet from NSW Health and see your local doctor if concerned.

arenting Ideas school parentingideas.com.au/